Both of the previous posts missed the main point of my message by focusing on the word "metrics". When I start to get a lot of resumes from reps from a particular company (especially one with a small sales force like Ironwood, I start asking questions. What I have heard consistently is that they came to Ironwood based on the opportunity to sell a great new product in a start-up, biotech type environment, where the focus would be on a clinical sale to GIs (with your co-promote partner, Forest, taking the lead on primary care). They are now looking at other options because they believe that Ironwood has evolved to more of a "big pharma" feel, where metrics are more important than sales, and where they are selling more to primary care than specialists. These are all experienced specialty reps. They understand (and so do I) that all companies in pharma have metrics. They just believe that the culture is not what they were promised, and the metrics was just one example of that cultural change.
I am happy if you like your job at Ironwood. As I have told your co-workers, the industry is contracting and there are few good jobs (and fewer great jobs) out there. I have successfully placed candidates in pharma and biotech for 20 years, and I can separate good reps who have concerns from bad reps who like to focus on the negative. The Ironwood reps that have approached me are the first type, and that is why I posted what I was hearing. If your feel differently, then you are at the right for your career.
